Full-Day Catamaran Cruise with Lunch in Island of Malta

Malta’s Tip Top One cruise gets the big thing right: space. With room for up to 44 people, shaded tables, cushioned seats, and bean bags spread across the front deck, it avoids the packed-boat feel common around Comino. I like the two swim stops and the fact that the crew chooses quieter anchorage points rather than dropping everyone into the thick of Blue Lagoon crowds.

I also like the practical all-day setup: lunch, wine, beer, soft drinks, and water are included, and restrooms are on board. The main consideration is the price, $156 per person, plus the fixed schedule and weather-dependent route. This is a premium day on the water, not a cheap transfer to a swimming spot.

Key points at a glance

• A 44-person catamaran: More room to sit, stretch out, and move around than on Malta’s largest party boats.
• Two swimming stops: The boat may use Comino’s Crystal Lagoon or Gozo’s Ramla l-Hamra, followed later by a stop near St. Paul’s Island.
• Blue Lagoon sightseeing without stopping there: You see Malta’s famous waters, but the boat avoids the overcrowded lagoon itself.
• Lunch and drinks included: Expect a Maltese platter, chicken, pork, salad, potatoes, bread, and drinks served throughout the day.
• Possible cave trip by tender: Time and conditions may allow a short small-boat visit through nearby caves.
• A full day from Sliema: Boarding starts at 10:15 a.m., departure is sharp at 10:30 a.m., and return is planned for about 5 p.m.

Why Tip Top One feels different on Malta’s crowded waters

Malta’s coast is made for a boat day. Clear water, pale rock, sea caves, small islands, and the old fortifications around Valletta all look better from the water than from a road. The problem is that the most famous places, especially Blue Lagoon on Comino, can attract boats packed with people.

Tip Top One is designed for people who want the scenery without the crush. Its maximum capacity is 44, and the boat has a broad layout with tables under shade, side seating, and bean bags on the forward netting. You can sit in the sun, find shade, or claim a quieter corner without feeling trapped in one seat.

That difference matters most during the swimming stops. You have room to dry off, collect your things, and enjoy a drink instead of standing shoulder to shoulder at the rail. The boat still has a social feel, but the pace is described as relaxed, with soft music rather than a full party soundtrack.

The boat is not a private charter, of course. A full departure can still mean 44 people sharing the deck, lunch tables, restrooms, and swimming equipment. But compared with boats carrying far larger crowds, the capacity is a useful part of the value.

Starting from Sliema at 10:30 sharp

The meeting point is Daycruisemalta.com, Tip Top One, at the Picard Tigné Seafront in Tas-Sliema. Boarding runs from 10:15 to 10:25, and departure is at 10:30 sharp. Treat that time seriously. A late arrival is not a minor inconvenience when the boat is leaving the harbor.

If you are staying in Valletta, the ferry is suggested as the easiest way to reach Sliema. The departure point is also near public transportation. Driving is less appealing because parking can be difficult, so a taxi is the recommended choice for anyone carrying beach gear or staying outside the immediate area.

The cruise ends back at the same meeting point at about 5 p.m. That makes this a self-contained day, but you should allow extra time around both ends of the trip. The experience lasts roughly six and a half hours, so it takes up most of your sightseeing day.

A minimum of 10 people is required for the cruise to operate. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. The operator also limits the boat to 44 people, although departures may run with fewer.

The first Maltese snack sets an easy pace

Once under way, you are served a traditional Maltese platter. It gives you something to eat while the boat moves along the coast and lets you settle into the day without rushing straight into a swim.

The snack is a useful touch because this is a long cruise. You can choose a shaded table, settle onto a cushioned seat, or stretch out on a bean bag while watching Malta’s coastline slide past. The open bar includes wine, beer, soft drinks, and water throughout the day, so you do not need to plan around buying drinks on shore.

The atmosphere is more relaxed than rowdy. Music plays, but the focus is on swimming, scenery, food, and conversation. That suits couples, families with different age groups, and anyone who would rather read, sunbathe, or watch the coast than spend six hours at a loud floating party.

If you are prone to seasickness, take the boat setting seriously. One person may find the motion uncomfortable and skip lunch, even though the food looks appealing. Sitting in a shaded, central area and keeping water nearby may help, but the supplied information does not promise calm seas.

Comino and the Crystal Lagoon option

The first main stop is planned for Comino’s Crystal Lagoon, weather permitting. Crystal Lagoon sits near the much more famous Blue Lagoon, but the boat does not stop at Blue Lagoon because its waters are too crowded.

That choice is central to the experience. You still see the Blue Lagoon and the striking Comino coastline, but your swim is intended to take place away from the worst congestion. The Crystal Lagoon offers clear water and a more pleasant setting for swimming and snorkeling when conditions allow.

The stop is not simply a photo pause. You should have time to get into the water and enjoy it at your own speed. Mask and snorkel sets can be borrowed, but a €20 deposit is required if the equipment is damaged or lost. Bring your own gear if you already have it, and remember that towels are not included.

If weather affects Comino, the first stop may change to Ramla l-Hamra in Gozo. That means you should see the route as flexible rather than guaranteed. Malta’s wind and sea conditions can change the plan, and the captain may choose a safer or more comfortable anchorage.

The boat may also use a small tender for a short cave visit. The timing and availability depend on conditions, but this can add a close-up look at Malta’s rocky shoreline without putting the main catamaran into tight spaces.

Lunch with a view, not a rushed shore stop

Lunch is served on board after the first swimming section. The meal includes chicken, pork, fresh green salad, potatoes of the day, and fresh bread. The portions are described as generous, with seconds available, which is welcome after time in the water.

You eat at a shaded table, so this is more comfortable than balancing a takeaway meal on a beach or scrambling for a place at a busy waterfront café. It also keeps the day moving. There is no need to disembark, queue for food, and gather everyone again before the boat leaves.

The food is straightforward rather than formal. Think filling boat lunch, not a restaurant tasting menu. That is exactly the right standard for a swimming cruise, and the included drinks make the $156 price easier to assess.

Tell the operator at booking if you do not eat chicken or pork, or if you need a vegetarian option. Dietary accommodation is available, but it should be arranged in advance. The supplied details do not specify every possible allergy or special diet, so write a clear note rather than assuming the crew will know.

Coffee and cake may also be served during the day, according to the onboard service details. With the early snack, full lunch, and drinks, you are unlikely to need to bring a separate meal.

The second swim near St. Paul’s Island

After lunch, Tip Top One heads toward St. Paul’s Island for a second swim. This gives the day a useful rhythm: cruise, swim, eat, then swim again rather than spending the entire afternoon anchored in one spot.

A second location also improves your chances of finding water that suits the conditions. One stop may be better for snorkeling, while another may offer more shelter or a different view of Malta’s coast. The exact stopping point is controlled by weather, sea conditions, and the captain’s judgment.

The crew is described as attentive to safety and good at selecting areas that are not overly crowded. That matters in high season, when the famous swimming sites can feel more like public pools than open sea.

You should still be comfortable entering the water from a boat. This is not a beach excursion with an easy shallow entry. Bring swimwear, sun protection, and a towel. A towel is specifically not included, and the boat’s open deck means the sun can be strong even when a breeze makes the air feel mild.

A possible Grand Harbour finale

Time permitting, the cruise may include a short visit to Grand Harbour. From the water, Valletta and the Three Cities gain extra impact. Fortified walls, harbor entrances, and historic waterfronts make more sense when you see how Malta’s ports function as protected natural gateways.

The harbor section is not guaranteed. The boat’s main priorities are safe sailing and the swimming schedule, so rough conditions or delays can remove this part of the route. The listed stop information includes Grand Harbour, but the full route can change due to weather.

That flexibility is worth understanding before you book. If you need a rigid sightseeing program that guarantees every landmark, this cruise may frustrate you. If you see the harbor as a valuable bonus on a sea day, the flexible approach is easier to accept.

The boat returns to Sliema around 5 p.m. You finish where you started, without a separate return transfer.

What $156 buys you

At $156 per person, this is more expensive than a basic boat ride or a simple ferry crossing. You are paying for a long outing, a smaller capacity, two swimming opportunities, a meal, drinks, shaded seating, restrooms, and the comfort of a large catamaran.

The value improves if you plan to spend a full day at sea. Buying lunch, several drinks, and transport between separate swimming sites would add up, and you would not get the same easy access to shade, tables, or bean bags. The boat also saves you from arranging separate sightseeing around Comino, St. Paul’s Island, and possibly Grand Harbour.

The price is less convincing if you only want to see Blue Lagoon from a distance or take one quick swim. You are paying for the full six-and-a-half-hour experience, not a short scenic transfer.

I would compare this cruise with Malta’s crowded, high-capacity boats rather than with a ferry. The main premium is personal space. If that is important to you, the extra cost can be sensible. The repeated praise for the food, free-flowing drinks, clean boat, and attentive crew also supports the idea that the package is more than transportation.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

This cruise fits you best if you want a calm day with a little sightseeing built around swimming. It suits couples, families, older relatives, and mixed groups because you can choose sun or shade and do as much or as little activity as you like.

It is also a good choice if you dislike loud party boats and crowded decks. The bean bags are useful for stretching out, while shaded tables make lunch comfortable. The boat has room for people who want conversation and people who simply want to look at the coast.

You should think twice if you need guaranteed stops, a guaranteed Grand Harbour visit, or a fixed swimming location. Weather can alter the route, and Crystal Lagoon may be replaced by Ramla l-Hamra.

This is also not a good fit if you expect a guided land tour with long visits ashore. Most of the day is spent on the catamaran or in the water. The sightseeing is coastal and atmospheric, not a detailed tour of Malta’s monuments.

What to bring and what to arrange

Bring a towel, swimwear, sunscreen, and any personal snorkeling equipment you prefer. Snorkel and mask sets may be borrowed with a €20 damage or loss deposit, but the equipment is not simply included without conditions.

Make your dietary request when booking. Chicken, pork, salad, potatoes, and bread form the standard lunch, with vegetarian arrangements available if requested.

Plan your route to Sliema before the morning of departure. The ferry from Valletta is suggested, public transportation is nearby, and taxis are recommended over driving because parking is difficult. Arrive in time for the 10:15 boarding window, not at 10:29.

The booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of 10 people is not reached.

Should you book Tip Top One?

Book it if your ideal Malta day includes open water, two swims, a proper lunch, drinks, coastal views, and enough deck space to avoid feeling packed in. The combination of a 44-person limit, shade, bean bags, restrooms, and a flexible captain-led route gives this cruise a clear advantage over giant boats.

Skip it if $156 feels high for a day centered on swimming, or if you need every stop to happen exactly as advertised. For most people who value comfort and a quieter boat, the price is justified by the space and all-inclusive service. I would choose it for a relaxed sea day, especially in the busy season, and arrive early enough to claim the kind of seating you prefer.

FAQ

Where does the cruise start and finish?

It starts and ends at Daycruisemalta.com, Tip Top One, Picard Tigné Seafront in Tas-Sliema, Malta.

What time should I arrive?

Boarding begins at 10:15 a.m. and closes at 10:25 a.m. The boat departs at 10:30 a.m. sharp and returns at about 5 p.m.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts approximately six hours and 30 minutes.

How many people can join the cruise?

The catamaran has a maximum capacity of 44 people.

Does the cruise stop at Blue Lagoon?

No. The boat sails past and provides views of Blue Lagoon, but it does not stop there because the waters are overcrowded.

Where does the first swim take place?

The first stop is planned for Comino’s Crystal Lagoon, weather permitting. It may be changed to Ramla l-Hamra in Gozo.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes chicken, pork, fresh green salad, potatoes of the day, and fresh bread. Vegetarian options can be requested in advance.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Wine, beer, soft drinks, and water are included throughout the day.

Are snorkeling equipment and towels provided?

Mask and snorkel sets can be borrowed with a €20 deposit in case of damage or loss. Towels are not included.